LEGO in University Curriculums

LEGO learning is not just for the kids. In the advanced education world of colleges and universities, one is never too old to be inspired. Constructing with LEGOs allow for a variety of science, technology, engineering, and math concepts, including:

• Structural Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering
• Physics

Structural Engineering requires the use of planning, understanding materials in use, and mathematics. With LEGOs, a creator can use their imagination and just build, or they can take it to the next level by designing the final product prior to the build. For the haphazard builder, trial and error can improve the understanding of structures by adding supports where weak points occur. For the more methodical builder, STEM skills can be used for sizing, estimating loading capacities, and building to functional limits (Spoon, n.d.).

In my experience, using LEGOs gives a builder a good sense of security. If a build fails, it is easy to repair. Taking it to a different level, it even helps in design decision making – do I start over completely, or do I improve upon what I started with? All-in-all, it gives the builder the ability to learn in a safe environment.

Mechanical Engineering involves the use of robotics. LEGO has had multiple programmable robotic bricks over the past 20 years. The most recent is the EV3 which came out in 2013. This is a very good learning tool with the intuitive native LEGO programming interface that allows development from your PC or tablet (EV3, n.d.). Very little programming knowledge is required using this drag and drop method allowing for very fast development. Use your imagination to design simple robotic arms, remote control vehicles, or even intelligent mechanical pets!

All of my LEGO robot development has been with the Mindstorms 2.0 using the third party leJOS operating system. leJOS allows me to program the sensors and servo motors with the Java programming language of which I had plenty of experience with through my professional career. 

LEGO Mindstorms 2.0 NXT Brain Brick with the leJOS Java based Operating System

leJOS 0.9.0 version for the LEGO Mindstorm 2.0 NXT

  Physics at the theoretical level is great for stretching your mind. Taking the mechanical concepts to a more academic level, LEGOs are then utilized less for creating products, and more to teach students how to think. This is called the constructivist theory of learning, allowing students to use knowledge and experience to solve real world problems (Danahy, Wang, Brockman, Carberry, Shapiro, Rogers, 2014).

I would have loved to use LEGOs at the University level for my engineering education. In my pre-college youth I was very engaged with LEGOs which spurred my curiosity, but without the practical engineering behind it I would not say that it helped me with understanding core scientific concepts. On the other hand, my development efforts with the LEGO brain brick was after earning my engineering degree which made me more effective with LEGOs!

References

Danahy, E., Wang, E., Brockman, J., Carberry, J., Shapiro, B., Rogers, C.B. (2014). LEGO-based robotics in higher education: 15 years of student creativity. International Journal of Advanced Robotic Systems. doi:10.5772/58249. Retrieved from https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.5772/58249

EV3 Programmer App. (n.d.) Lego.com. Retrieved from https://www.lego.com/en-us/mindstorms/apps/ev3-programmer-app

Spoon, M. (n.d.). 5 things Lego blocks can teach you about structural engineering. HowStuffWorks.com. Retrieved from https://science.howstuffworks.com/engineering/structural/5-things-lego-blocks-teach-structural-engineering3.htm

How can you use STEM in your career?

Healthcare Information Technology - using STEM education for patient healthcare

For those of you out there looking to change careers or just enhance the career you are in, have you considered education in the realm of Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math to help you achieve your dreams? I have used my STEM education to enter a career and do meaningful work in the field of health care information technology. My job journey in healthcare began with a practice management software company. Since then I have also spent time with a large health care organization serving the people of North Carolina. Most recently I am using my knowledge and experience to help bring low cost, high quality, network connectivity to rural health providers across the state. 

Although I am not clinically trained, neither a doctor nor a nurse, I am still able to help improve the health of our population through the sharing of patient clinical information, allowing the important clinical information to follow a patient to whatever provider they choose. Weather working with computer software geared toward the health industry or making internet connectivity available to providers in rural locations, my STEM education has allowed me to engage in activities that help others. The help is extremely indirect but is important none the less. 

Let me know in the comments below the ways you would like to change the world. What STEM subjects can help get you there?

This past week I spent some time at the Health Information Management System Society (HIMSS) annual conference where I was exposed to many information from both technology practitioners and vendors. The vendor area was 1/3 mile in length, the pictures below do not do it justice!

HIMSS Vendors

Vendors, although rightfully biased towards their products, are great sources of knowledge for what the market needs, as well as sources of jobs! Check out health care IT companies and discover the needs of the workforce and see how STEM can help you obtain employment in this exciting field. 

The theme of the conference was "Champions of Health" with a major focus on data interoperability. If you are uncertain where you want to put your effort, I highly recommend helping the cause of connecting rural health care providers in your locations to help with the continuity of care for patients in remote locations where healthcare is scarce. Basic, high quality internet is a need in these areas for the promotion of Tele-health and Tele-medicine services as well as for the sharing of basic patient information. You too can be a champion! 

On the lighter side...

While in Orlando, Florida for the HIMSS conference, I did make a point to visit Disney Springs one evening, specifically to go to the LEGO store! Below are a few images which I found impressive.

LEGO Rey and BB-8

LEGO Fire Breathing Dragon

LEGO Cinderella

LEGO Mural

LEGO Hulk

 Thank you for reading, see you again soon!

STEM education – Be the teacher

To many people, working in a science, technology, engineering, or math career can be rewarding. But even more fulfilling is being the instructor of STEM related subjects.

There are many great schools and universities where STEM education is taught, one of which is North Carolina State University (which also happens to be a highly rated technology and engineering school). Check them out here at https://ced.ncsu.edu/stem-ed/about/ and learn about how NCSU not only trains the best and the brightest for STEM careers, but also how they train the best and brightest who are necessary for effectively teaching and engaging students, helping them to embrace and succeed in STEM subjects.

Taco Frisbee in front of the home of STEM education at NCSU

I do not profess to be a teacher in the traditional sense, but I do have a goal to encourage STEM learning in ways that are intriguing. 

Taco Frisbee and me at the
LEGO brick yard

Taco Frisbee and me at NCSU Wolf Plaza,
AKA the Brickyard

Of course, I still like LEGOs as they were the inspiration for me to obtain a degree in engineering.

Taco Frisbee in front of my old *house* at NCSU

Let me know in the comments below, what were your childhood inspirations for science, technology, engineering, and math? Was it a teacher, a specific toy, or a game? Finally, what are your tips for encouraging today's youth to get them interested in the STEM field?

STEM Education - beyond LEGOs and Robots

Welcome back to the blog and happy Groundhog Day!

Part 1 - Happy Groundhog Day!

Today is February 2, known to some of us as Groundhog Day. Taco Frisbee has created for us an interpretation of this celebrated day to remind us that we will have an extended winter.

LEGO groundhog waxing poetic in the LEGO flower garden on 2 February 2019 while looking for STEM educated robots

Did your municipal groundhog pronounce a prognostication on meteorological activity regarding a premature vernal equinox? Or will spring arrive on-time on March 20 this year in your neck of the woods?

Part 2 - STEM education within art and hobbies

STEM (or Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) education is relevant for all age groups of learners. Practically everything can be self-taught these days, so getting exposure to STEM subjects does not require formal education and training. Integrating STEM into hobbies provides learning opportunities that will enrich and engage the learner. This also broadens experiences within established activities to allow further growth.

Keep an open mind on this. Yes, my hobbies are already STEM related: LEGOs and robots. But what if your hobbies are more art focused? Here are a few ideas:

1. Writer. In the STEM world we have technical writing. Do you practice your writing, or do you just write to complete a story or poem? Apply your craft in new ways by picking a technical topic of your choice and creating a how-to blog, speaking only in haiku.
   
   
   Step one is easy
   Turn on computer and wait
   Waiting on boot-up
   
   
   Open web browser
   Write about blog creation
   In Google Blogger
   
   
   Select good keywords
   People easily find blog
   They read your content
   
   
   Knowledge mixed with art
   Visitors to blog feel joy
   Mission accomplished
   
   
2. Painter. Try a different medium. Try computer drawing. This exposes the mind and body to a different, yet similar, artform. For a bit more of a stretch, look into computer aided drawing (CAD) and see how your talents can be used within a technical environment.

Please leave your ideas on how to utilize STEM knowledge in hobbies in the comments below, or hop over to here and sign-up to receive more STEM related hobby ideas from me and Taco Frisbee!

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Hi all.  Fast forward now to July 2019.  Not an advertisement, but more of a way to share my other interests.  Check out https://www.TartanPachyderm.com to see some great options for short stories in an electronic format.  My favorite author is Anji Plesh, and her author page can be found here at https://www.TartanPachyderm.com/AnjiPlesh